Tension hook for knitting machines



TENSION HOOK FOR KNITTING IAGHINES Filed Aug. 2v. 1927' 25% HBM@ Patented July 23, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OTTO H. VIEHWEGER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO GOTHAM SILK HOSIERY COMPANY, INC., OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELA- WARE.

TENSION HOOK FOR KNITTING MACHINES.

Application led. August 27, 1927. Serial No. 215,862.

My invention relates to an improved con-- struction of tension hooks for knitting ma chines and relates more particularly to a novel construction of tension hooks for maintaining the leg portion of a full fashioned knitted stocking under tension on a footer7 knitting machine while the foot portion is being knitted.

Yhen the foot portion of a full fashioned stocking is knitted the leg fabric which has previously been knitted on the legger machine first transferred onto the needles of the footer and then the foot portion is completed.

In knitting the foot portion onto the leg fabric it is necessary to keep the leg fabric under a certain tension as the knitting progresses. This is usually accomplished by inserting a series of hooks into the leg fabric and exerting a pull on said hooks by means of a strap, secured to the metal plate upon which said hooks are mounted, and which is wound around a take up roller on the machine as the knitting proceeds.

This tension device above described is usually constructed with four hooks, two of which are adapted to hook into the reinforced heel tabs and two of them into the plain fabric between the heel tabs.

The tension put upon the hooks after they are attached to the leg fabric, especially the tension On the hooks inserted between the heel tabs, quite frequently causes the hooks to cut the stitches at the point of their insertion into the fabric or causes the stitches at that point to become lspread or distorted.

This injury to the knitted fabric. results in a defective stocking. If the defect is a spread stitch it necessitates the repairing of the defeet by hand, after the knitting of the stocking has been completed and before it can be placed upon the market forsale. In the case of a cut stitch it is sometimes impossible to make a proper repair and it is necessary for the manufacturer to dispose of the stocking as a second or a defective stocking at a cheaper price.

The object and purpose of my present invention is to provide a new construction of tension hook for use on a footer7 knitting machine which will efficiently held the leg portion of the stocking when tension is put thereon, and which at the same time will grasp the? ieg fabric in auch a manner that the stocking will not be marred or damaged so as to cause defects in the leg portion.

The nature and scope of my invention will be more fully understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming part hereof in which, y

Figure 1 is a plan View of my improved tension hook showing the manner in which the leg portion of the stocking (indicated by interrupted lines) is held by the hook.

Figure 2 is an end view in elevation of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the tension hook attached from the leg fabric.

Figure 4t is a plan View of same.

Figure 5 is a cross section taken on the line 5 5 0f Figure 4.

The tension hook is formed with a metal plate 1 having mounted on the ends thereof the hooks 2 and 3. The hooks 2 and 3 are secured to the plate in any suitable manner such as by screws 4 and 5. Pivotally secured to the plate 1 at 6 is a clamp bar 7, which is adapted to swing away from the plate, when its outer' end 8 is released from under the catch 9 also secured to said plate. Mounted on the clamp bar or rod 7 is a member 10 preferably constructed of a rubber tubing or other resilient material, which is adapted to have a pressing contact with plate 11 which is preferably constructed of resilient material, and is secured to plate 1 at the center thereof. Plate 1 is also provided with a slot 12 to which is attached the strap 13, for tensioning the fabric in'any desired manner. In the construction herein disclosed the end of strap 13 is adapted to be received by and rolled around the take up roll 14 which is mounted on the front portion of the knitting machine and is timed to wind as the material is being knitted. v It will be noted that. the weaker stocking fab# ric 15 is gripped between the tubular member 10, and the plate 11 of resilient material, and these members are wide enough to embrace a substantial portion of the fabric which thereby remains uninjured or undistorted. Obviouslyv the gripping surface of said fabric gripping membersmay be eX- tended if desired.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent, is:Y

1. In a footer attachment for knitting` machines means for engaging the heel tabs, a base member to support said heel tab engagging means, a pivot stud and a catch on said base member, a clamp bar mounted to swing on said pivot stud and engage said catch for yieldingly holding the stocking fabric While the foot is knit.

2. In a footer attachment for knitting machines means for engaging the heel tabs, a base member to support said heel tab engaging means, a pivot stud and a catch en said base member, a clamp bar having resilient means, said clamp bar mounted te swing on said pivot stud and engaging said catch for holding the stocking fabric While the foot is knit, and a fabric holding` plate onto which said clamp fastens.

3. A footer attachment for knitting inachines comprising a plate member havingv a slot therein and hooks near the ends thereof, a pivotstud and a catch spaced apart, a fabric holding plate intermediate said stud and said catch, and a bar mounted to swing on said stud over said fabric holdingl plate to clamp the fabric onto said plate when the catch engages the bar. Y

et; A footer attachment for knitting machines comprising,` a plate member having a slot therein and hooks near the ends thereof, a pivot stud and a catch spaced apart, a fabric holding plate intermediate said stud and said cat-ch and a bar yieldinely mounted to swing on said stud over said i'abric holding plate to clamp the fabric onto said plate when the catch engages the bar a strap in said slot means to Wind up said strap.

In testimony whereof have hereunto set my hand on this twenty-second day of Anw gust A. D., 1927.

OTTO H. VIEHl/VEGER. 

